Anchorage Airport Memories
Delaney Park Airstrip, Merrill Field, Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood. Anchorage aviation history
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Delaney Park Airstrip, 1924
The oldest park in the city of Anchorage wasn’t always a park.
It first began as a fire break. It was also a golf course.
Then in 1924, the citizens of Anchorage cleared the land and it became a 300 foot by 2000 foot landing field for aviation pioneer, Noel Wien.
Wien’s first flight took place on June 4, 1924. And by the end of that month he had flown 170 passengers from the airstrip.
Wien also started the first Anchorage to Fairbanks flights from that airstrip.
By the way, Delaney Park was named after James Delaney, one of the first Mayors in Anchorage.
BONUS
Want to know more? Check out Anchorage Delaney Park as an Airstrip right now.
DOUBLE BONUS
Check out this Anchorage Daily News story, the History of Delaney Park right now.
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Merrill Field opened in 1932.
Once this airport opened, the Delaney Park Airstrip was no longer needed.
Merrill Field was the first official airport in Anchorage. And, until 1951, it was the only airport in Anchorage.
Construction of Merrill Field began in 1929 and was originally called Anchorage Aviation Field, then, the Anchorage Municipal Airport. It was later named after Alaska aviation pioneer, Russel Merrill.
During the 1930s, Merrill Field had so much air traffic that it became the most active civilian airport in the entire U.S.
As an interesting side note, the very first Aviation Beacon in what was then, the Territory of Alaska, was located at Merrill Field.
BONUS
Check out this History of Merrill Field right now.
DOUBLE BONUS
Read about Alaska pioneer aviator Russel Merrill right now.
The picture above is the Anchorage Airport 1950s
Anchorage International Airport, now called Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, was first opened in 1953 when commercial aircraft were getting too big to land at Merrill Field.
Because of it’s location in the world, Anchorage International Airport became known as the “Air Crossroads of the World”.
It is now the 3rd busiest cargo airport in the world.
BONUS
Read more about The History of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport right now.
DOUBLE BONUS
The smiling couple above are Mike and Mary of Anchorage Memories.
This picture was taken at Anchorage International Airport on June 8, 1970 as we were getting ready to board our Western Airlines flight on the beginning of our honeymoon. We had been married the day before on June 7th… Boy, were we ever that young?
Lake Hood Seaplane Base
Back in 1938, a channel was built between Lake Spenard and Lake Hood and a gravel airstrip was built on the southside of lake Hood.
In the 1950s, the combined lakes were developed and enlarged.
A traffic control tower was added in 1954. Then, in the 1970s, the tower at Anchorage International Airport took over for lake Hood air traffic.
Lake Hood has an average of 190 flights each day.
In the summer, planes take off and land on the lake using "pontoons". In the winter they use snow skis.
BONUS
Take a look at the Lake Hood History right now.
We call our members “North Stars”
Here is a comment from Gene Wilson about our Anchorage Memories VIP look at Anchorage pioneer, Joe Spenard.
“My memories of Spenard are wonderful.
Our band played at the original Electric Eye on Wendy Way before it moved to the Old Seward Highway, which turned into Angels, Gussies, Billiard Palace and Hot Rods.
We were the house band for the Lake Shore Club which became The Fancy Moose and the Flying Machine. The Young Bloods (“Get Together”) named a song on their album for beautiful Lake Spenard after playing there.”
Note from Anchorage Memories:
Gene Wilson and his band also opened for Jefferson Airplane at West High and for Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Armory, just to name a few.
OK, you saw the picture up above when Mary and I had just been married. That was over 50 years ago… So the picture above is much more recent. Mary hasn’t changed a bit…
Did you enjoy this look back at Anchorage Airport Memories?
Did you arrive in Anchorage at Merrill Field? Have you ever flown out of Lake Hood?
We love hearing from our North Stars. So send us your comments, suggestions or just say “hello to the honeymoon couple”.
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Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Anchorage Memories
In 1969 joe Wilbur and I lived with our family of 7 on our 1740 E 5th Avenue location at Merrill Field. The little kids in our family engaged in a conversation with some fellows about the old tower building that was just east of our property. They ran back to me telling me that they were told they could buy it for $15. They were very excited. I had to tell them they were just being teased.
We lived across from Merrill field during WWII and they were building a new control tower. We were the last house on 5th Ave. as you were heading toward Mt. View. The army guards would give us kids an occasional candy bar or comic book and mom would give a hot cup of coffee. Dad was Alaska Airlines radio man and worked across the street. I have some 16mm movies dad took of an airshow where the planes would dive at baloons and break them. Also film of a hangar that burned and other things. Those were interesting times, blackouts and all!